Let's Get this Party Started!

It's May - that means that birthday season is upon us!  We'll start with our newly minted four year old: Valerie Joy.

She is still in love with Diego and his pet jaguar.

We had a little party at Fuller Park with some family and friends.

Happy Val - our WILD CAT!

Life with Ally - Never a Dull Moment!

She is definitely the middle child...and she marches to the beat of her own drum.

Last night, she (finally!) lost her first tooth.  It hadn't been out of her mouth for more than 30 seconds when it decided to "jump" out of her hand and down the sink drain, never to be seen again.  Typical.

 

She's the one who invents all the creative play in our house.  This is a Narnia sword battle with basket helmets and giant strawberry shields.  Typical.

This is what she does when she's supposed to be working on spelling.  Typical.

 

She doesn't sit still for one second...not even to pose for a cute picture with her best-bud cousin.   Climbing up the railings....typical.

 

 

She makes this mama laugh with her crazies...and I love her for it!

Marc's First Sermon

The last several months have been full of anticipation (of both the good and bad variety) which culminated last Sunday evening in the preaching of Marc's very first sermon!  He chose Colossians 3:1-4 as his text of Scripture and did a fantastic job of both explaining and applying the words of Paul regarding setting our mind on heavenly things.  As I listened to him, I was so thankful to God for using his mouth to speak such truths.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

My parents are in Brazil for a good chunk of this month, so several deacons are filling in for Dad on the preaching schedule.  As we were driving to church that evening there was a freak hail and lightning storm.  Marc cringed and looked at me.  "Maybe God is trying to tell us something.  I don't think that I should be preaching tonight."  I replied, "Or else Satan is trying to keep you from saying what you have planned to say."

If you are interested, you can listen to it here...just click on "A Heavenly Mindset."

Grandpa's Birthday

We had a big family dinner last week in honor of my Grandpa Obenchain's 87th birthday.  Lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, second-cousins, in-laws and out-laws (you know who you are!) were crammed into my Mom and Dad's house.  We had great food, a family slide show, and lots of good catching up.  This Psalm was read and tears of gratitude were shed for the godly heritage that we have been given through Grandpa's life.

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

¹ Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
² Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
⁴ A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
⁵ Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
⁶ In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.

⁷ We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
⁹ All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
¹⁰ Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
¹¹ If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
¹² Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
¹⁶ May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

¹⁷ May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Today was our 100th day of school!

Would you like to know how we celebrated? 

100 minutes of school work - and not one second more!

100 minutes of treats - a lunch excursion

100 minutes of Wii games - tennis, mostly

100 minutes of movie watching - Mulan (it fits into our History curriculum)

100 minutes of playing at the park - P.E.

The girls were pretty thrilled with their choices of activities for the day.

We have a 100's pocket chart for counting off the days of school.  Each time we bundle a group of 10 days and move them over in the place value column, I give the girls a little treat in the shape of a "O" because the zero holds the spot.  (Does that make sense?  If you're a teacher, you'll understand.)  Anyway...since 100 has two zeros, we had an extra special treat at lunch.  Blue Sky bagels for the main course and Krispy Kreme donuts for dessert.  ZING!  Annie and Riley were able to join us for the sugar fest.

The 100 minutes of park play and 100 minutes of Wii tennis should help to burn off some of our calories...right?

Oh, the joys of homeschooling!  Lest you think that I have spoiled my children rotten, I will inform you that they also had to make their beds, practice their piano lessons, brush their teeth, set the table, tidy the playroom, etc. today.

Do I really believe?

If I REALLY believed

what I SAY I believe...

THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT!

 

If I really believed that PRAYER was the privilege of speaking to the God of the Universe...and being heard by Him, then I wouldn't have a hard time finding time to pray.  I would have a hard time getting up off my knees.

 

If I really believed that the DEVIL is real and he wants to destroy me, then I wouldn't be flirting with him by watching and reading his garbage or by letting him get a foothold in my life by harboring anger toward others.

If I really believed that the BIBLE is God's Word (His direct revelation of Himself to me!), then I would be quick to run to it first and often.  I would study it more carefully.  I would memorize it more diligently.  I wouldn't be so easily distracted by my calendar, my homeschool lesson plans, blogs, MSN.com, Words with Friends ... Facebook (uhg!).

If I really believed that God rewards my GENEROSITY toward others, I wouldn't be such a scrooge with my wallet or my belongings.  I wouldn't worry about food or clothing (or medical insurance, or new tires, or anything).  I would see a need and give joyfully!

If I really believed that HEAVEN is my eternal home, I wouldn't be so caught up in temporal things.  I would think more about having my soul ready to meet my Savior than about the dust in the living room.  I would be more conscientious about storing real treasure (people!) in heaven rather than on the shelves in our garage.

If I really believed that my WITNESS matters - that God uses my life and my mouth to draw more of His children into His kingdom, I would not be paralyzed by fear.  I would prayerfully and boldly speak of His love and the power of his forgiveness.  I would make that phone call, write that letter.

Lord, I do believe.  Help me overcome my unbelief!
(Mark 9:24)


Christmas Traditions (with lots of pictures!)

Christmas break was just about as perfect as you could plan it this year.  My whole family was able to spend several days together at the cabin.  We have had to celebrate Christmas on alternate days the last couple of years because of work, church or in-law schedules.  But not this time!  We were all together from Christmas Eve through Marc's birthday.  It was wonderful...but I'll let the pictures tell the stories.

 

First, the traditional candy train.

 

 

There were actually two versions this year.  Love the concentration on Valerie and Riley's faces.

 

 

Chuck and Missy brought syrup for authentic snow cones.  The prototypes were eaten directly off the ground, but eventually we did find cups and spoons to go around.

 

 

The snowmobile ran smoothly all week - but all of our snow clothes reeked of fumes when we unpacked at home.

 

 

I realize that pulling sleds uphill is not the safest way to play, but it sure kept the kids (and Marc!) happy for a lot longer.

 

 

The snow would not pack for a snow man, but Marc was able to carve out a fun little cave and slide.

 

 

(The snow fell out of Valerie's mitten just as I snapped this shot ... it cracks me up.)

 

 

Susie and her kids on the downhill and the mini-snowman that Ally built.

 

 

Christmas morning ... the candy and chap stick are beginning to melt over the fireplace.

 

 

Let's get this show on the road!

 

 

Grandpa loved all the extra lovin' this week.

 

 

Mom received a special family portrait commissioned by Chuck and painted by Sierra.  It is already proudly displayed at the cabin.

 

 

Valerie had a very Jag-bar (jaguar) Christmas.  She's a little obsessed at the moment.

 

 

Marc's birthday is the day after Christmas.  He was so (not) pleased to be sung to at least 20 times.  My family knows how to make a guy feel loved.

 

 

We provided  ice-cold bottled Coke and a tasty Brazilian meal in his honor.

 

 

 

The rest of the week was spent playing games, watching movies, doing puzzles...

 

 

building forts...

 

 

hanging out in front of the fire place...

 

 

taking creepy sibling pictures...

 

 

and playing games.  (Did I mention that already?)

 

 

Of course, there was pizza making with Grandma.  Now all the girls have matching aprons for this tradition.

 

 

By the end of the week, some cabin fever had definitely set in.

 

 

 

We are so thankful for these wonderful memories together!